Contributo degli studi morfosedimentari alla pianificazione delle attività turistico balneari ed alla mitigazione degli impatti: indice di vulnerabilità del sistema dunare e carryng capacity della spiaggia emersa nell’area SIC in sinistra foce del Fiume Garigliano.

The subaerial beach and dune zone included in the coastal area located to the left of the Garigliano River mouth have been studied. Physical and biotic factors were evaluated by multidisciplinary approach and the results obtained allowed to identify the critical area where appropriate actions can be implemented for the mitigation of impacts, the conservation of dune habitats and its sustainable use. We evaluated the level of dunes vulnerability (Dune Vulnerability Index - DVI) and sustainable anthropogenic load (carrying capacity) of the emerged beach. The fi rst summarizes quantitatively the responsiveness of the coastal dune system to the different processes and effects of human pressure. The second analyzes the relationships between sedimentological and morphological features, density and distribution of users, quality and service distribution, safety bathing, in order to identify the level of anthropogenic load that a given environmental can bear. The studies highlighted the severity of the erosion of the beach and he dune system. The effects of these processes are also refl ected on the vegetation that highlights critical conditions such as to endanger the survival of some local species. The erosion processes are related to the pressure of human activities that have acted over time in both direct and indirect manner, initiating and/or accelerating a reduction in the resilience of the natural system